Chandigarh, February 26
With crime against women becoming a way of life in Haryana, the Hooda government came in the line of fire of certain MLAs, including those its own party, in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha today.

Sampat Singh, Sumita Singh, B.B. Batra, Congress MLAs, and Ram Pal Majra, from the main Opposition INLD, moved the calling attention notices for the discussion on the soaring crime graph and the state government’s alleged failure which had brought it shame and outrage at the national level.

Majra alleged that the law and order situation was going from bad to worse. “While crime against women, particularly rape, is a stigma on the state’s face, the Hooda government has failed to check the spurt in crime,” Majra asserted.

Replying to the calling attention motions, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Randeep Surjewala tried to put up a defence, terming the law and order situation in the state as “peaceful”. However, leader of the BJP Legislative Party Anil Vij alleged that even PL Punia, Congress MP and Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, had termed Haryana as the “rape state” against the backdrop of the a spurt in crime.

A war of words ensued between INLD MLAs-Abhay Chautala, Ashok Arora and Majra-and the Congress MLA over Batra’s alleged role in issuing a recommendation letter to Jaswanti, the main accused in the sexual exploitation of the inmates of Apna Ghar, Rohtak, last year. While Batra wanted to put the record straight on the issue, Speaker Kuldeep Sharma did not allow him on the plea that Governor’s Feburary 22 Address was yet to be debated by the House.

Chandigarh, February 26
After being in the denial mode for years, the Haryana government today admitted to a spurt in cases of atrocities against Scheduled Castes (SCs) in the state.

The admission was made by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda while replying to a question in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha here today. From 162 cases of atrocities against Dalits in 2005, the figure went up to 238 in 2012 (till January, 2013), the Vidhan Sabha was informed.

While 295 accused were arrested in 2005 for crime against the SCs,145 cases of atrocities against the downtrodden were registered and 226 accused were arrested next year. And during 2007 and 2008, a total number of 147 and 222 cases of atrocities against downtrodden were registered and 223 and 434 accused were arrested, respectively.

In 2009, a total number of 203 cases of atrocities committed against the downtrodden were registered and 260 accused were arrested, during the year 2010, a total number of 215 cases of atrocities against the downtrodden were registered and 547 culprits were arrested. Similarly, in 2011, a total number of 209 cases of atrocities committed against the downtrodden were registered and 327 accused were arrested and in 2012 till January, 2013, a total number of 238 cases of atrocities committed against the downtrodden were registered. As many as 465 accused were arrested last year, Hooda announced on the Floor of the House.

Underlining steps taken for the protection of the Dalits, the Chief Minister said an elaborate mechanism for the prevention of crime against the Dalit community had been set up. 

Chandigarh, February 26
Still smarting under the "attack" by two Congress MLAs on day one of the Haryana Assembly session, the Congress-led government got an "earful" from the Opposition on the issue of discrimination in development during the discussion on the Governor's Address, here today.

In the absence of the Leader of Opposition, Om Prakash Chautala, state INLD chief and Kurukshetra MLA Ashok Arora lost no opportunity to rub salt in the wounds of the government and maintained that it was a grievance of Congress leaders, too.

"The Chief Minister belongs to the entire state. Contrary to this, the Chief Minister seems to be focused about developing Rohtak alone and belongs to only one belt. Gurgaon MP Rao Indrajeet is sore over the lack of development in his area while other leaders of your own party (Congress) keep harping on the growing discrimination," he said, adding that the issue was fanning the fire of regionalism.

He quoted statistics to show how development works, announcements and projects in the CM's home district far exceeded those in the districts of Panchkula and Yamunanagar.

This was enough to ruffle the treasury benches, which protested even as the Congress MLAs claimed that the "Congress was a big party and everybody had a right to hold an opinion".

Reacting sharply to this, Arora was quick to question that if it was merely an opinion of an individual, why had the Congress party responded by giving a notice to Congress MLA Rajpal Bhukri for airing his grievances.

Taking on the Congress' claim of "Haryana No. 1", Arora said it was baseless in a state where 21 per cent of the people were living below poverty line.

"Only a handful are getting rich and raising the per capita income level. These figures are meaningless. The Dalits are at the receiving end in the state, lawlessness is all-pervasive. The state is better known for the rising number of rapes. The crime graph is up," he said.

Taking up the cause of the "aggrieved" farmers, Arora alleged that their land was being "usurped" and Change of Land Use had been given for 21,000 acres of land. "The government issues Section 4 and Section 6 notice, announces an award and then releases the land. Loans are available to farmers at 4 per cent while the truth is that they get it at 12 per cent," he said.

Earlier, Raghubir Singh Kadian moved the motion of thanks on the Governor's Address. He said the government was particularly successful in ensuring a clean and transparent working.

Seconding the motion, Congress chief whip Aftab Ahmed appreciated the state's achievement in managing its finances and attracting unprecedented development, which, he said, had come despite the slowdown. 

Chandigarh, February 26
The Vidhan Sabha today unanimously passed a resolution to thank the Prime Minister, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal for announcing a number of projects, including a rail coach factory, for Haryana.

Incidentally, the rail coach factory for Sonepat triggered demands from MLAs seeking its shifting to their districts.

Moving the resolution, Haryana Parliamentary Affairs Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala said the Chief Minister had urged the Prime Minister and Bansal to give Haryana a rail coach factory. "The Opposition should also thank them as a big project has been given to Haryana," he said.

As soon as INLD MLA Ashok Arora suggested that the factory be moved to a "backward" area, Ambala MLA Venod Sharma was the first to stake claim to it.

"Ambala is the most backward district by any standards. The IMT was to come to Ambala but land acquisition was stalled by some party leaders," he said in an obvious reference to Selja, the Ambala MP who was not too keen on the project.

Soon after him, Excise and Taxation Minister Kiran Choudhry said the factory should be shifted to Bhiwani as there was no big project there.

Later, addressing a press conference, Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the coach factory would come up in 400 acres in Sonepat district. 

Chandigarh, February 26
The Haryana government has accorded approval to fill 11,000 posts of constable. Of this strength, 9,622 posts will be for male constables on general duty, 334 for female constables on general duty, 736 male constables for the India Reserve Battalion, 298 male sportspersons and 10 female sportspersons.

This information was provided by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh while replying to a question in the Vidhan Sabha here today. He said at present, the Haryana Police has about 6.5 per cent policewomen out of the total posted strength. Two women police stations are functioning in Sonepat district and it is proposed to establish one mahila police station each in Gurgaon, Faridabad and Jhajjar districts, he stated.

The Crime and Criminal Tracking Netwrork and Systems programme has been launched and pilot projects have started in 47 police stations of Ambala, Panchkula and Gurgaon districts.

Congress MLA Aftab Ahmed demanded an increase in the number or women police personnel for effective curbing of crime, particularly against the women.

Meanwhile, Haryana has received Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of Rs 9,628.51 crore from April 1, 2005 till date, Hooda said while replying to a question.

Replying to another question, Hooda said the number of buildings existing in the limit of the local authorities along scheduled roads as on February 15, 2013 was 13,969, out of which 1,965 buildings had been regularised which were in existence immediately before the commencement of the Punjab Scheduled Roads and the Controlled Areas Restriction of Unregulated Development (Haryana Amendment) Act, 2009. He said the regularisation charges of Rs 11,23,75,645 had been recovered from the regularisation of 1,965 such buildings. The number of such buildings at that time was 13,804 and 242 such buildings had been demolished up to February 15, 2013.

Hisar/Sirsa, February 26
A government doctor has tested positive for swine flu in Sirsa while ten new suspected cases of the disease have come to the fore in Hisar in the past two days and two suspected cases have been witnessed in Fatehabad.

In Hisar, the health authorities collected throat swab samples of six patients yesterday and four patients today.

“We have sent throat swab samples of 172 patients to the Central Institute for Communicable Diseases (CICS), Delhi, for testing so far this year. Of these, 62 were found to be positive - 34 from Hisar and 28 from other districts. As many as 11 people have died due to the H1N1 infection in the district.

Of these, two belonged to Hisar while nine of them were from other districts,” said Dr Sushil Garg, the nodal officer for swine flu in Hisar.

In Sirsa, where seven deaths have been reported due to the H1N1 virus, a government doctor has tested positive for swine flu. The doctor is posted at Fatehabad.

Yamunanagar, February 26
The delay in framing the licensing policy by the local civic authorities has placed more than 16,000 entrepreneurs of the district in a dilemma as the last date of depositing the license fee is getting nearer.

Local traders rued that three years back, with the formation of a municipal corporation here, they had been forced to deposit the licensing fee twice and this year they were facing a similar situation as the authorities had not yet framed the licensing policy.

The last date for depositing the fee is February 28, but they have not yet received any formal communication from the local authorities regarding renewal of licences.

Krishan Kumar, a trader, said the traders were unable to decide whether to deposit the fee before February 28 or wait for the MC to send them a communication. He said same situation had arisen three years back and those who had deposited their annual fees, had been asked to again deposit the fee after the authorities had finalised the policy.

It is learnt that the file related to the framing of the policy is lying pending with the joint commissioner of the local municipal corporation. Executive officer of the Municipal Corporation K K Jain stated that they had completed all the modalities to frame the annual license policy and the matter was pending with the higher authorities.

The traders expressed apprehension that the delay in depositing the licensing fee might lead to imposition of penalty on them.

Feb 28 deadline
The last date for depositing the fee is February 28, but they have not yet received any formal communication from the local authorities regarding renewal of licences.

Karnal, February 26
Commotion was caused at Kohand village in Karnal following the recovery of minor girl, who was found moving in mysterious circumstances at Alipur road. Some people playing nearby noticed her and informed the sarpanch and her husband informed the police on women's helpline.

The police reached the spot along with a counsellor. The girl was produced in the court of Subdivisional Magistrate.

The couple who allegedly held her hostage is absconding.

The 16-year-old girl, a resident of Suranpur village in Paonta Sahib (Himachal), was missing since December 8 and a report had been lodged with the police. It was alleged that a woman, Puja, whom she addressed as mausi (aunt), brought her to Kohand and along with her husband Raj Kumar allegedly married her off to Sanju in Kaithal. It was also alleged that the girl was beaten up and maltreated by her in-laws. She reportedly left her in-law’s place and returned to Kohand a fortnight back.

Raj Kumar and Puja allegedly kept her captive for more than 12 days before she managed to free herself and was found moving mysteriously in Alipur road.

The police is investigating the matter.

Chandigarh, February 26
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today announced relief for agriculturists using tubewells in Bhiwani district.

Hooda was addressing representatives of the Bhartiya Kisan Union and farmers of the area who had called upon him at his residence here today.

Hooda said the consumers having motors with capacity between 12.5 BHP and 15 BHP would be supplied electricity at the rate of 20 paisa per unit for metered supply and Rs 30 per BHP per month for unmetered supply as against the previous rate of 25 paisa per unit and Rs 35 per BHP per month, respectively.

Consumers with motors having a capacity of more than 15 BHP will now get electricity at the rate of 15 paisa per unit for metered supply and Rs 20 per BHP per month for unmetered tubewells. Earlier, the electricity was supplied to these consumers at a rate of 20 p per unit and Rs 30 per BHP per month for metered and flat rate power supply, respectively.

The Chief Minister announced that from March to October, uninterrupted power supply would be made available to consumers during the night and later on, it would be facilitated as per a prescribed time schedule. He made it clear that the same rate would be charged for that period.

Hooda said the decision had been taken keeping in view the low groundwater level in the area.

He said the Congress had always been pro-farmers and had always taken decisions in their interest, be it the waiving cooperative bank loans to farmers, waiving arrears of electricity bills or increasing the price of sugarcane. 

Faridabad, February 26
The BJP today announced the names of office-bearers for its Faridabad unit.

Besides Ajay Gaur, who has been elected president of the unit, the other office-bearers are: vice-presidents-- Vishnu Goyal, Raj Kumar Vohra, Vijay Chandila, Anil Pratap, Raj Kumar, and Gajender Bhadana;

general secretaries-- Om Prakash Rakshwal and RN Singh; secretaries--Ashok Mutreja, Mukesh Gupta, Dinesh Bhatia, and Kiran Sarot treasurer--Ajay Bhatia

Mukesh Bhati and Yogesh Kumar are the press secretary and the office-secretary, respectively

Gaur alleged that the governmenthad neglected Faridabad.

Kurukshetra, February 26
The police has arrested a resident of Garhi Kheri in Rohtak district for allegedly demanding dowry from his wife.

District police chief Rakesh Kumar Arya said in a complaint lodged with the police, Rajni, daughter of Krishan Chand and a resident of Babain, had stated that she was married to Alok Kumar on October 26, 2009, and since then her husband and mother-in-law had been demanding dowry and beating her.